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Friday, 29 September 2017

This month saw 51,321 votes cast over 32 local authority (tier one and tier two) contests. All percentages are rounded to the nearest single decimal place. 15(!) council seats changed hands in total. For comparison with August's results, see here.

Party

Number of Candidates

Total Vote

%

+/- Aug

+/- Sept 16

Average/Contest

+/-

Seats

Conservative

32

14,074

27.4%

-11.1%

-2.3%

440

-7

Labour

30

18,824

36.7%

-4.2%

+9.8%

627

+3

LibDem

25

5,041

9.8%

-3.3%

-12.0%

202

+1

UKIP

13

1,156

2.3%

-0.7%

-9.0%

89

-1

Green

18

3,965

7.7%

+4.8%

+5.0%

220

+2

SNP

3

3,345

6.5%

+6.5%

+3.8%

1,115

0

PC**

0

0

Ind***

10

3,352

6.5%

+4.6%

+3.0%

335

+2

Other****

9

1,564

3.0%

+2.8%

+2.3%

174

0

* There were three by-elections in Scotland this month** No by-elections in Wales*** There were two Independent clashes **** Others this month consisted of A Better Britain - Unionist Party (858), Scottish Libertarian (12 and 12), Chase Independent Party (65 and 42), BNP (75), Demos (25), Yorkshire Party (19), Save Our Stretton (455), And so it goes. While not quite as pronounced this month thanks to decent showings from the SNP, the Greens and the Independents, polarisation is the name of the game as the two main parties remain light years ahead of the rest of the pack - even though the Conservatives suffered a big monthly fall. Just look at the year-on-year figure. Last autumn we were talking about the LibDem surge and now, well, their vote has collapsed back to their "traditional" historic range. And as for UKIP, not the best story to greet their anonymous new leader with.Yet what does annoy is despite Labour being the largest political party in Europe and the Tories languishing with a reputed hundred thousand members, at least where by-elections are concerned the blues persistently out-organise the reds. They may scrape the barrel for their candidates but it matters they are on the ballot paper more than we are.For the electoral supergeeks, please find below the outcome of each by-election contest by date.7th SeptBarbergh Sudbury South: Lab gain from ConCannock Chase Hednesford Green Heath: Lab gain from ConCannock Chase Hednesford South: Grn gain from ConColchester Shrub End: Con gain from LibCroydon South Norwood: Lab holdEast Cambs Ely South: Lib gain from ConGlasgow City UA Cardonald: Lab holdHerefordshire UA Golden Valley South: Ind gain from ConLancaster BC Skerton West: Lab holdLewes DC Ouse Valley & Ringmer: Grn gain from ConNorth Lanarkshire UA Fortissat: Lab gain from ConPeterborough UA Eye, Thorney & Newborough: Con holdStaffordshire CC Hednesford & Rawnsley: Con holdSuffolk CC St Johns: Lab hold14th SeptMid Devon Council, Westexe: Con gain from UKIPWest Dorset DC, Lyme Regis & Charmouth: Ind gain from ConTrafford MB, Bucklow St Martins: Lab hold21st SeptHolmebrook: Lib gain from LabOadby Uplands: Lib gain from LabWaveney, Oulton Broad: Con hold28th SeptBarnsley MB, Kingstone: Lab holdBreckland DC, Thetford Priory: Lab gain from Con Durham UA, Trimdon and Thornley: Lab holdEast Staffordshire BC, Stretton: Con holdHarlow DC Toddbrook: Lab holdHarrogate BC Washburn: Con holdLancaster City Council, Halton with Aughton: Lab gain from Ind Northampton BC Eastfield: Lab holdNorthampton BC Nene Valley: Con holdSt Edmundsbury BC Chedburgh: Con holdSt Edmundsbury BC Hundon: Con holdThe Highland UA, Tain and Easter Ross: Ind gain from Lib